EXPO Kicks off EXHIBITION Weekend with In-Person and Virtual Programming
By Pearl Fontaine

EXPO CHICAGO is hosting a special EXHIBITION Weekend, featuring arts programming and exhibitions September 25-27. Conceived to provide a global platform for the city’s top galleries, creatives, and institutions, the event will include a lineup of virtual events accessible through an online viewing room (made possible by Hook) and live, socially-distanced shows and events.

“Given EXPO CHICAGO’s commitment to our community, there was no hesitation to make our first predominantly virtual initiative in support of Chicago—celebrating the breadth and scope of the city’s vibrant creative community while providing an access point for international audiences to connect with local artists, gallerists, and collectors,” said Tony Karman, President and Director of EXPO CHICAGO.

Nearly 20 venues are holding safely distanced in-person events by appointment, including Rhona Hoffman Gallery showing Spencer Finch, Amoako Boafo’s exhibition at Mariane Ibrahim, “Nine Lives” at Renaissance Society, Driehaus Museum’s “A Tale of Today,” and Monique Meloche Gallery’s Jake Troyli show.

Virtually, EXHIBITION Weekend participants will have access to an online platform where they can navigate the weekend’s happenings at their own pace. In addition to digital exhibitions, programming includes artist-led studio tours; a premiere of Angel Bat Dawid’s commission for The Art Institute of Chicago, “Peace: A Suite for Skylanding, A Mended Petal Odyssey;” and the opening celebration of Nate Young and Mika Horibuchi at Driehaus Museum. VIP attendees will have additional access to art advisor tours, institution walk-throughs led by curators, and collectors’ visits—including that of Jack and Sandy Guthman.

The weekend series kicked off Thursday, September 24 with a conversation co-hosted by Artsy, featuring artists Nick Cave and Bob Faust, with Quintin Williams of the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights and Illinois Humanities’ Gabrielle Lyon. Introduced by Agnes Gund, founder of Art for Justice, they discussed Cave and Faust’s limited-edition print sale, which will donate proceeds to Art for Justice, the Facility Foundation, and EXPO CHICAGO’s Curatorial Initiatives.